Engineering Manager

Gentherm; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Gentherm, a global leader in thermal management and pneumatic comfort technologies, is seeking an Engineering Manager, Process and Tools to define and own the global engineering process across Systems, Software, Cybersecurity, and Hardware. You will align PM, Marketing, Sales, and Engineering, drive tooling maturity, and ensure compliant execution across product lines.

You will manage a team of Tech Leads, enforce process discipline, and partner with Cybersecurity leadership to meet ISO/SAE

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in automotive or similarly regulated engineering environment, including process, systems, software, or tools related roles.
• Prior people management or team lead experience.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, negotiate, and drive alignment across teams and functions without direct authority, including Program Management, Marketing, Sales, and cross regional Engineering teams.
• Working knowledge of engineering lifecycle tools (requirements management, test management, ALM/PLM systems, e.g., Jama, Polarion, Jira, Teamcenter, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with cybersecurity engineering standards relevant to automotive (ISO/SAE 21434 or equivalent).
• Strong cross functional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Track record of holding ground on process and compliance standards under pressure from stakeholders, including senior stakeholders, who do not report to this role.
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity and asserting process discipline against competing priorities and resistance.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the global engineering process covering Systems, Software, Cybersecurity, and Hardware disciplines.
• Set the roadmap and strategic direction for engineering process maturity and tooling across all product lines.
• Own the engineering tools portfolio used across all product lines, including selection, deployment, and lifecycle management.
• Manage direct reports, Tech Lead Process, Tech Lead Cybersecurity, and Tech Lead Tools, setting priorities and reviewing execution against the roadmap.
• Proactively engage Program Management, Marketing, Sales, and Engineering early in program and product lifecycles to ensure process and tools are applied by design, rather than reconciled after the fact.
• Drive enforcement and usability of defined process across engineering, not just documentation of it, closing the gap between defined process and actual practice.
• Govern process and tool change through the applicable Change Control Board, evaluating impact across regions and product lines.
• Partner with Cybersecurity leadership to ensure engineering process meets applicable regulatory and customer security requirements (e.g., ISO/SAE 21434, UNECE R155/R156, as applicable).
• Represent Process and Tools in customer and internal audits, program reviews, and process assessments (e.g., ASPICE, CMMI, or equivalent).
• Identify and resolve gaps, inefficiencies, or compliance risk in current process and tools; drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Hold cross functional teams accountable to defined process and tooling standards, including teams and functions with no reporting relationship to this role, escalating and resolving noncompliance directly.
• Serve as the primary point of escalation and resolution for process and tools related conflicts across regions, product lines, and functions

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Influence without authority

ALM/PLM tools

Cybersecurity standards

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Jama

Polarion

Jira

Teamcenter

Job description

Your Career. Your Impact. Your Future. At Gentherm, we believe the next big breakthrough begins with you. As a global leader in thermal management and pneumatic comfort technologies, we develop advanced systems that deliver meaningful solutions to enhance health, wellness, comfort, and efficiency in everyday life. Our products and innovations are created for you, by you.

Your Career. Your Impact. Your Future. At Gentherm, we believe the next big breakthrough begins with you. As a global leader in thermal management and pneumatic comfort technologies, we develop advanced systems that deliver meaningful solutions to enhance health, wellness, comfort, and efficiency in everyday life. Our products and innovations are created for you, by you. Be part of our team where a human-centric mindset drives everything we do—from the technologies we build to the careers we support. With decades of expertise, we have pioneered advanced solutions that have become a standard expectation for consumers around the world. The same thoughtful approach we take in developing our technologies guides how we support your career: purposeful, impactful, and tailored to you. Because when you thrive, innovation thrives.

Engineering Manager

Impact and Opportunity

The Engineering Manager, Process and Tools owns the global engineering process framework, spanning Systems, Software, Cybersecurity, and Hardware disciplines, and the tools that support execution of that process across all product lines. This role sets the roadmap for how Gentherm's engineering organization works, aligning Program Management, Marketing, Sales, and Engineering stakeholders around a common process and toolset, and is accountable for the definition, usability, and enforcement of both. This role operates with significant autonomy and is expected to drive alignment and accountability across all functions, often facing competing priorities, approaches, and independent existing processes.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

• Define and own the global engineering process covering Systems, Software, Cybersecurity, and Hardware disciplines.
• Set the roadmap and strategic direction for engineering process maturity and tooling across all product lines.
• Own the engineering tools portfolio used across all product lines, including selection, deployment, and lifecycle management.
• Manage direct reports, Tech Lead Process, Tech Lead Cybersecurity, and Tech Lead Tools, setting priorities and reviewing execution against the roadmap.
• Proactively engage Program Management, Marketing, Sales, and Engineering early in program and product lifecycles to ensure process and tools are applied by design, rather than reconciled after the fact.
• Drive enforcement and usability of defined process across engineering, not just documentation of it, closing the gap between defined process and actual practice.
• Govern process and tool change through the applicable Change Control Board, evaluating impact across regions and product lines.
• Partner with Cybersecurity leadership to ensure engineering process meets applicable regulatory and customer security requirements (e.g., ISO/SAE 21434, UNECE R155/R156, as applicable).
• Represent Process and Tools in customer and internal audits, program reviews, and process assessments (e.g., ASPICE, CMMI, or equivalent).
• Identify and resolve gaps, inefficiencies, or compliance risk in current process and tools; drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Hold cross functional teams accountable to defined process and tooling standards, including teams and functions with no reporting relationship to this role, escalating and resolving noncompliance directly.
• Serve as the primary point of escalation and resolution for process and tools related conflicts across regions, product lines, and functions

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in automotive or similarly regulated engineering environment, including process, systems, software, or tools related roles.
• Prior people management or team lead experience.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, negotiate, and drive alignment across teams and functions without direct authority, including Program Management, Marketing, Sales, and cross regional Engineering teams.
• Working knowledge of engineering lifecycle tools (requirements management, test management, ALM/PLM systems, e.g., Jama, Polarion, Jira, Teamcenter, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with cybersecurity engineering standards relevant to automotive (ISO/SAE 21434 or equivalent).
• Strong cross functional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Track record of holding ground on process and compliance standards under pressure from stakeholders, including senior stakeholders, who do not report to this role.
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity and asserting process discipline against competing priorities and resistance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ASPICE or CMMI process frameworks.
• Experience managing global or distributed engineering teams.
• Direct experience standing up or maturing a systems/software engineering process from an immature baseline.
• Experience operating in a matrixed or highly cross functional organization where outcomes depended on influence rather than direct authority.

Nice to Know

Travel: Up to 5%

Leadership Responsibilities: Manages a team of 2-3 people

Gentherm is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building an inclusive culture through Our Network of Engagement (ONE) where we value our differences and work together to positively impact the lives of our employees, customers, and communities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.